Algae- Green as It Gets Lindsey Rae Gjording

 What is Algae?  Necessities of Life  Oil Extraction Methods  Algae as a Fuel: Biodiesel and Hydrogen  Pros and Cons

What is algae?  A large and diverse group of simple, usually autotrophic organisms that can have either unicellular or multicellular forms.

Hype and more hype  Algae can produce up to 15 times more oil per acre than all other plants used for biofuel  Algae can double its volume overnight  It would take an algae farm the size of Texas to produce enough hydrogen to meet the world’s energy needs  Algae can produce up to 15 times more oil per acre than all other plants used for biofuel  Algae can double its volume overnight  It would take an algae farm the size of Texas to produce enough hydrogen to meet the world’s energy needs

What algae needs to grow  Carbon dioxide  Sunlight  Water  Carbon dioxide  Sunlight  Water

Cyanobacteria

Oil Extraction Methods  Oil Press Method  Hexane Solvent Method  Supercritical Fluid Extraction  Enzymatic Extraction  Ultrasonic Assisted Extraction  Oil Press Method  Hexane Solvent Method  Supercritical Fluid Extraction  Enzymatic Extraction  Ultrasonic Assisted Extraction

Oil Press Method:

Ultrasonic assisted extraction

The Process  Ultrasonic waves are used to create cavitation bubbles in a solvent material  When the bubbles collapse near cell walls they create shock waves and liquid jets that cause the cell walls to break and the oil to be released into the solvent  Ultrasonic waves are used to create cavitation bubbles in a solvent material  When the bubbles collapse near cell walls they create shock waves and liquid jets that cause the cell walls to break and the oil to be released into the solvent

Algae as Fuel: Biodiesel  The lipid oil is converted into biodiesel.  Easiest way is with the oil press.  The lipid oil is converted into biodiesel.  Easiest way is with the oil press.

Algae as Fuel: Biological Hydrogen  C. reinhardtii, when deprived of sulfur, will switch from producing oxygen to produce hydrogen.  Due to an enzyme within called hydrogenase, which is activated when algae’s internal oxygen flow is interrupted.  C. reinhardtii, when deprived of sulfur, will switch from producing oxygen to produce hydrogen.  Due to an enzyme within called hydrogenase, which is activated when algae’s internal oxygen flow is interrupted.

Pros  Versatility in growth methods  Versatility in uses  Speed of production  Potential for huge production levels  CO2 reduction  Versatility in growth methods  Versatility in uses  Speed of production  Potential for huge production levels  CO2 reduction

Cons  Energy intensive  Not competitive against foreign oil (yet)  Needs funding  Technology not ready  Energy intensive  Not competitive against foreign oil (yet)  Needs funding  Technology not ready